Cotton cleaner



June 3, 1947.

A. L. SMITH COTTON CLEANER Filed Feb. 28, 1945 A. L. 5 MI TH INVENTOR.

Patented June 3, 1 947 COTTON CLEANER Algernon L. Smith, Birmingham, to Continental Gin Company,

Delaware Ala., assignor a corporation of Application February 28, 1945, Serial No. 580,196

This invention relates to cotton cleaners of the type which include a rotary cylinder with elements thereon so spaced as to form a supporting and cleaning surface in lieu of a screen, and has for its principal object the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall embody a more efficient cleaning and supporting surface than has heretofore been provided and with a greater area of uninterrupted space through which foreign material removed from the cotton may fall.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a cotton cleaner which shall embody a screening cylinder of relatively large diameter having a cleaning and supporting surface formed from thin, serrated disks so spaced as to permit trash and foreign material to fall therebetween, but close enough together to support, agitate, and transport the cotton thereover.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cotton cleaner comprising a single, relatively large diameter, screening cylinder with cleaning elements so spaced as to form a supporting and screening surface, together with a plurality of agitating cylinders disposed above the cleaning cylinder, so disposed and so rotated, that the cotton being cleaned is tossed back and forth between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cotton cleaner embodying a single, relatively large diameter screening cylinder in lieu of a screen, together with a reclaiming saw cylinder assembly disposed to reclaim any cotton which may pass between the cleaning elements on the screening cylinder along with the foreign matter removed from the cotton.

In my previously filed application, Serial No. 570,120, filed December 28, 1944, now Patent No. 2,401,439, granted June 4, 1946, there is shown, described and claimed, a cotton cleaner embodying, in place of the usual screen, an arcuate row of cleaning cylinders comprising a multiplicity of cleaning elements spaced apart a sufiicient distance to permit trash, leaves, sticks,'and other particles of foreign matter to pass therebetween, but close enough together to provide a supporting surface for the cotton being cleaned, in association with a single relatively large diameter agitating drum, disposed in concentric relation to the row of cleaning cylinders. The present invention, is an improvement over that disclosed in my prior filed application aforesaid in that I provide a single screening cylinder comprised of cleaning elements, preferably in the form of rela- 5 Claims. (Cl. 1993) tively thin disks, spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the passage of trash, sticks, leaves, and other foreign material from the cotton being cleaned, but close enough to provide a Supporting surface for the cotton while it is being cleaned. The screening cylinder is of a relatively large diameter and disposed above it is a row of relatively smaller diameter agitating cylinders in spaced relation to the cleaning cylinder and driven in a direction opposite to that of the screening cylinder. In operation, cotton is transported over the screening cylinder and is tossed back and forth between said screening cylinder and the row of agitating cylinders in its travel, thereby bringing about a separation of the dirt and trash from the cotton. The disks of the screening cylinder being of relatively large diameter, provide relatively long, uninterrupted spaces between them through which the foreign matter falls, and the rotation of the screening cylinder aids in throwing the foreign matter downwardly clear of the cleaning cylinder. In the bottom of the casing, I provide a reclaiming saw assembly which serves to separate any cotton which may have clung to the foreign material in its passage through the screening cylinder, which reclaiming saw assembly delivers the foreign material out of the easmg.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyin drawing,

forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through a cotton cleaner made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail View showing a fragment of the screening cylinder in elevation, removed from the casing; and

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a fragment of one of the agitating cylinders.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, my improved cotton cleaner comprises a casing it having a cotton inlet II and a cotton outlet l2 disposed on the opposite side of the casing from the inlet H. The lower part of the casing I3 is in the shape of a hopper bottom for the collection of foreign material removed from the cotton.

In lieu of a screen, I provide, adjacent the cotton inlet H, a relatively large diameter screening cylinder 14. The screening cylinder I4 is preferably comprised of a multiplicity of relatively thin disks 16 (see Fig. 2), provided with relatively large serrations ll, which serrations I are adapted to engage and agitate the cotton upon rotation of the cylinder in the appropriate direction, but to which the cotton does not cling. The disks l6 are spaced relatively close together, say about of an inch, whereby to support the cotton but to permit any leaves, sticks, trash or other foreign material in the cotton to pass between the disks and fall down into the hopper bottom 53. The screening cylinder M is rotated by any suitable means in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 whereby to transport the cotton from the inlet ll across the casing, as viewed in Fig. 1, and delivered out of the casing through the outlet I2. The speed of rotation is such that cotton engaged by the serrations i1 is thrown tangentially away from the cylinder as indicated.

Disposed in a curved row, preferably concentric with the screening cylinder l4, and above the screening cylinder, are a plurality of agitating cylinders [8. The agitating cylinders H! are driven in a direction opposite to that of the screening cylinder M as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. The agitating cylinders 18 are each provided with a multiplicity of agitating elements, such as spikes l9, which are adapted to engage the cotton thrown upwardly from the screening cylinder l4 and to toss it back against the screening cylinder. The row of agitating cylinders I8 is disposed in spaced relation to the screening cylinder I4, whereby the cotton is tossed back and forth and is maintained in an open, fluffy condition, and all foreign material is beaten out or shaken out of the cotton to pass between the disks 16 of the screening cylinder M into the hopper bottom of the casing. The agitating cylinders are also disposed in closely spaced relation with respect to each other, whereby cotton is retained on the under side thereof and does not pass upwardly between the cylinders. It will be seen, that while I have shown the row of cylinders l8 as being arranged'concentrically with respect to the screening cylinder l4, such an arrangement is not essential as the row may be other than concentric with the cylinder 14 so long as the cylinders are so disposed as to agitate and toss the cotton back and forth in the space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders.

Disposed in the bottom of the casing I3 is a reclaiming saw assembly of well known design comprising a saw cylinder 2! and a doifer brush 22, the saw cylinder being disposed to engage the foreign material falling down into the hopper bottom l3 and remove cotton therefrom, and the doffer 22 being disposed adjacent the saw cylinder to remove cotton therefrom in a manner well understood in the art. The foreign material, after being acted upon by the reclaiming saw cylinder 2| is thrown outwardly of the casing by the action of the saw cylinder through an outlet 23, while cotton removed from the reclaiming saw cylinder 2| is thrown outwardly of the casing through a reclaimed cotton outlet 24. A shield 26 in the lower part of the casing prevents foreign material passing between the disks [6 of the screening cylinder from falling downwardly onto the dofier brush 22.

While I prefer to construct the screening cylinder from thin, closely spaced, disks, as shown, it will be understood that it may be otherwise constructed. For example, it may consist of spikes mounted on a drum in closely spaced relation as disclosed in my before mentioned, previously' filed application, Serial No. 570,120,

My improved cotton cleaner is especially adapted for the cleaning of cotton which has been picked by a mechanical picker, as it comes from the field, bearing sticks, green leaves, dirt, and

other trash. The relatively large diameter screening cylinder provides ample screening space between the disks and is aided by centrifugal force in carrying the foreign material removed from the cotton downwardly in the bottom of the casing. The cotton being thoroughly agitated and opened up by the action of the agitating cylinders and the screening cylinder in its travel through the apparatus, all foreign material is thoroughly and efficiently removed. It will accordingly be apparent that I have devised an improved cotton cleaner which is simple of construction and operation and one which thoroughly and efficiently cleans the cotton.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a cotton cleaner, a single rotary screening cylinder comprising a plurality of thin plates carrying agitating and cleaning elements mounted on a shaft and spaced apart a suificient distance to provide a screen for the cotton being cleaned, between which plates foreign material removed from the cotton passes, a plurality of rotary agitating cylinders of relatively smaller diameter disposed in a row above the screening cylinder to provide a substantial vertical space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinder, and means to feed cotton into the cleaner between the screening cylinder and the row of agitating cylinders, said agitating cylinders and screening cylinder being driven in opposite directions to toss the cotton back and forth in the space between them and transport it through the apparatus.

2. In a cotton cleaner, a casing having a cotton inlet, a cotton outlet, and a bottom shaped to collect foreign material removed from the cotton, a single rotary screening cylinder of relatively large diameter comprising a multiplicity of thin disks having agitating and cleaning elements thereon and mounted on a shaft in spaced relation to provide a supporting and screening surface for the cotton and disposed to receive cotton from the inlet on the upper surface thereof, a plurality of rotary agitating cylinders disposed above the screening cylinder to provide a substantial vertical space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders, and means to drive the agitating cylinders in a direction opposite to that of the screening cylinder to toss cotton back and forth in the space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders and to deliver it out through the cotton outlet.

3. In a cotton cleaner, a casing having a cotton inlet, a cotton outlet, and a bottom shaped to collect foreign material removed from the cotton, a rotary screening cylinder of relatively large diameter comprising a multiplicity of relatively thin disks having agitating and cleaning elements thereon and mounted on a shaft in spaced relation to provide a supporting and screening surface for the cotton and disposed toreceive cotton from the inlet on the upper surface thereof, a plurality of rotary agitating cylinders disposed above the screening cylinder to provide a substantial vertical space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders, means to drive the agitating cylinders in a direction opposite to that of the screening cylinder to toss cotton back and forth in the space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders and to deliver it out through the cotton outlet, and means in the bottom of the casing to separate cotton from the foreign material passing through the screening cylinder.

4. In a cotton cleaner, a single screening cylinder of relatively large diameter comprising a plurality of serrated disks mounted on a shaft in spaced relation to provide a supporting surface for the cotton and a, screen through which foreign material removed from the cotton may pass, a plurality of agitating cylinders disposed in a row above and in spaced relation to the screening cylinder to provide a substantial vertical space therebetween and having agitating elements thereon, a casing for the cleaner having an inlet disposed to deliver cotton onto the upper surface of the screening cylinder, an outlet for the cleaned cotton and a bottom shaped to collect foreign material passing between the disks of the screening cylinder, means to drive the row of agitating cylinders and the screening cylinder in opposite directions to receive the cotton from the inlet and transport it to the outlet, tossing it back and forth between the cylinders in its travel, and a reclaiming saw assembly in the bottom of the casing disposed to remove cotton from the foreign material and to deliver the foreign material from the casing.

5. In a cotton cleaner, a single rotary screening cylinder comprising a shaft of relatively small diameter having agitating and cleaning elements thereon spaced to permit the passage of dirt and trash therebetween but close enough to each other to support and form a screen for the cotton being cleaned, said agitating and cleaning elements forming a screening cylinder of relatively large diameter, a plurality of rotary agitating cylinders of relatively smaller diameter disposed in a row above the screening cylinder to provide a substantial vertical space between the screening cylinder and the agitating cylinders, and means to feed cotton into the cleaner between the screening cylinder and the row of agitating cylinders, said agitating cylinders and screening cylinder being driven in opposite directions to toss the cotton back and forth in the space between them and transport it through the apparatus.

ALGERNON L. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20,270 Oliver May 18, 1858 1,526,392 Streun Feb. 17, 1925 1,946,783 Deems Feb. 13, 1934 2,055,630 McLean Sept. 20, 1936 2,072,978 Cumpston Mar. 9, 1937 2,384,383 McDaniel et a1. Sept. 4, 1945 2,401,439 Smith June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,451 Great Britain 1909 3,418 Great Britain 1900 

